Getting a flu shot is even more important when vaccine effectiveness ebbs

You might be in a risk group for complications for flu complications and not even know it yet – the list of categories is longer than you might realize.

USA flu activity has increased rapidly over recent months, and the CDC has now declared that the outbreak has reached epidemic levels, according to a recent CDC briefing on influenza activity in the United States.

With the flu season at its peak, students should be aware of tactics to stay healthy. And the virus continues to gain steam across the state.

The Florida Department of Health notes that “more outbreaks have been reported so far this season than in previous seasons at this time, which may be an indication of a more severe influenza season”. By December, activity is reported in nearly every state and deemed “widespread” in six states throughout the South. Most hospitalizations are in the metro, with 68 percent of cases. Physicians, pharmacists and county health departments can provide flu vaccinations for Alabamians. The more virulent H3N2 strain (Influenza A) has been the most dominant, with 69 per cent of cases, with a 31 per cent incidence of Influenza B.

The statistics show over the last week there has been a 78% increase in the GP consultation rate with flu like illness, a 50% increase in the flu hospitalisation rate, and a 65% increase in the flu intensive care admission rate.

The elderly, young children, and those with underlying health problems should be monitored carefully for complications. Dog parks and boarding houses are ideal breeding ground for the flu virus.

Florida seems to be faring better than other states.

On Friday, Grafton City Hospital reported that they have had 69 confirmed cases of the flu at the Tygart Valley Total Care Clinic and emergency room. That means 26 states are considered high intensity and have reported 12-14% of patients have flu-like illnesses, including NY City.

Practising good hand hygiene and giving eligible people the flu vaccine is the best defence against the virus.

“There are four different strains of flu that are put into this single vaccination shot in hopes we hit what’s out there”, he said.

“I’m not a whimp…my pain tolerance is pretty high, but at one time I was under six blankets and I couldn’t get warm”, she said. “None in any of my boarders”, Beckman said, also confirming she has not seen any cases of dog flu this year. And even you do get the flu after getting vaccinated, Dr. Fauci tells NPR, the flu shot may lessen the severity of your symptoms and may even decrease your risk of hospitalization.

“And no, it is not possible to get the flu from getting the flu shot.”

“It can be a challenge for vaccines to match the exact strain out there sometimes”.

Across the nation, the flu season already is rated as being “moderately severe” – and the word is that it could get worse.

There’s likely still another 11 weeks of flu season to go, Jernigan said, which means it’s not too late to get the vaccine.